Dear Parents and Guardians of Students of the H. Olive Day School, Once again, the children of the H. Olive Day School have demonstrated that the true spirit of the season is not found in a store or in a package, but in the hearts of those who spend their time and energy showing others that they care.  Our students’ participation in and contributions toward our Hat, Mitten and Sock Tree, the Holiday Sharing Project and the Anton’s Coats for Kids collection warmed the hearts of...

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There is a great emphasis in education on boosting academic achievement in American schools.  News articles and reports focus on learning standards, the core curriculum, high stakes testing and the need for constant improvement in teaching and learning. Recently, however, it has been refreshing to see more emphasis on SEL - Social Emotional Learning.  At HOD, we believe that if academic skills are the basic building blocks of a successful education, then social emotional learning...

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HOD- it’s a great place to be!  That is because all of us KNOW that it takes a village to raise-and-educate!- a child!  Here are just a few people who deserve a special HOD HIGH 5! The Norfolk Teachers” Association and the Norfolk TPA for co-sponsoring the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive for the Norfolk Food Pantry. The HOD students and staff who contributed 1,346 items for the Pantry!  Miss Janczunski’s class, in particular, for contributing 210 items - the...

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The students and staff of the H. Olive Day School have successfully used the Open Circle program to create a cooperative and caring community of learners. Would you like to learn more regarding what the Open Circle Curriculum is teaching your child about: Being cooperative and caring?   Improving communication skills? Problem solving? Developing self-control? Taking responsibility? Then the Open Circle Parent Program is for YOU! This program, which is facilitated by Mrs....

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December is my favorite month because of the joy our children show when we sing the holiday songs!"Jingle Bells" is sung with excitement and accompanied by jingle bells, tone blocks and egg shakers."My Dreidel" is a familiar song to represent the holiday of Hanukah. We all delight in the songs that tell the story of "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer", "Frosty the Snowman",and the tradition of gift giving in "The Twelve Days of Christmas". These and other December holiday songs will be included...

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Students who need the most practice reading at home are often the ones who become most easily frustrated doing so. Instead of being an enjoyable, relaxing activity, reading turns into a battle, often involving tears and feelings of incompetence. The following list suggests some ideas to help parents keep their emerging readers excited about books and reading. See a movie that’s based on a book. Then, read the book together. Encourage your child to read for fun by reading entertaining...

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Santa is not the only one thinking about budgets and money this month. Our HOD second graders are busy making change from a dollar and our first graders are practicing counting mixed coins. Incorporating the strategy of counting up by tens, then adding the smaller number increments is helpful.  Getting that overall estimate or sense of about how much money is a great first step. Including your child in the process of estimating the cost of items at the grocery store or on your holiday gift...

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With the holiday season upon us, children anxiously anticipate the "winter break" from school. Parents, however, don't always feel the same way, especially when faced with the chore of finding stimulating and educational ways to entertain the kids. The Museum of Fine Arts of Boston (www.mfa.org) offers a terrific alternative to the vacation week trip to the movie theatre. There are always many interesting exhibits that will appeal to the children of all ages. If you haven't been to the museum...

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The 1st and 2nd graders are participating in the H.O.D. Healthy Heart Club! Each week, they begin PE class with a 3, 4, or 5-minute jog. When they accumulate 15 minutes, they become members of the 15-minute club. Students sign their names to club level posters, which are displayed in the hallway. Students will have an opportunity to join the 30 minute, 45 minute, and 60 minute club as they accumulate minutes. We plan to track our minutes until the last week of school. I will give you an update...

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This month we have many books on display for the teachers and the children to learn about the December Holidays; Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and Christmas. The preschool and kindergarten have been enjoying the folktale, The Gingerbread Man. First and second graders have been enjoying Holiday folktales from around the World.

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This month continues to be busy in the world of technology. Teachers are continuing to discover many resources available for use with our Smartboards and our new Acuity program. Another great tool available to all of our students, K-2, is our great Lexia Reading program. This program is a technology-based system of differentiated practice, embedded assessment and targeted instruction. This scalable approach provides teachers with norm-referenced measures that predict performance and prescribe...

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